El Nido: We love you, but don’t love us to death

Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the carrying capacity for small lagoons would be limited to 30 tourists and 15 kayaks per hour.

A Philippine government inter-agency body that is tasked to protect and preserve the country’s tourist destinations has set the carrying capacity and guidelines for lagoons in El Nido, Palawan.

Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the carrying capacity for small lagoons would be limited to 30 tourists and 15 kayaks per hour.

Larger lagoons are allowed to accommodate 60 tourists and 30 kayaks for every one hour and 30 minutes.

Puyat is a member of the inter-agency body along with environment secretary Roy Cimatu and interior and local government secretary Eduardo Año.

The inter-agency body was formed earlier this year to oversee the rehabilitation of Boracay island after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the popular destination shut down for six months. Boracay reopened last October.

Both small and large lagoons in El Nido are accepting guests from 7am to 4pm.

Puyat also said that aside from the carrying capacity, swimming has also been prohibited on Buena Suerte Beach.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has identified “strict protection zones” where human activities are prohibited, except for the conduct of scientific research and ceremonial use by indigenous communities.

The restriction is due to the high biodiversity value of the protected areas, including Helicopter Island, Balinuad Beach, Turtle Island and Pacanayan Island.